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Award Bell Vacation Scheduling

In the Matter of an Arbitration
Between
Bell Canada (employer)
And
Unifor (union)
And
In the Matter of Vacation Scheduling Grievances

AWARD

The union alleges that the employer violated article 21.09 of the collective agreement by not
creating vacation schedules in accordance with that article.

The two most relevant provisions of the collective agreement read as follows:

“21.08. Vacation schedules shall be prepared each year by the Company between January 1st
and February 1st with due consideration to seniority, provided, however, that such schedules
shall be arranged to cause, in the judgement of the Company, the least possible interference
with efficient performance of the work. In general, vacations shall commence at the beginning of
the calendar week unless the demands of the work make this impossible.

21.09 For the purposes of vacation selection, each Tier D manager’s group shall be
considered a seniority unit.”

This is not the first time I have addressed the meaning of, principally, article 21.09, but also the
relevance of article 21.08 in the scheduling of vacations. The parties are both familiar with that
award and both addressed it in their final submissions. I do not intend to quote from it and will
say, only, that I reiterate that the results could vary from location to location, depending on the
particular facts.

Award Bell Vacation Scheduling April 2019…Read More

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Unifor Hope in High Heels team raises 126,000 for Halton Women’s Place

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MILTON – A Unifor team, led by Unifor National President Jerry Dias and his son Jordan, raised a record breaking 126,000 for Halton Women’s Place in the Hope in the High Heels walk in Milton, Ontario.

“Knowing that the money goes directly to support survivors of domestic abuse motivates our team to raise our fundraising goal each year,” said Dias. “Sadly we continue to see the tragic consequences of domestic violence in our society, highlighting the urgent need for the services that organizations like Halton Women’s Place provide.”

This year’s Hope in High Heels fundraiser was dedicated to the memory of Laura Grant, a 57-year-old emergency dispatcher at the Mississauga Central Ambulance Communication Centre, who was murdered by her husband last month. The fundraiser also took place days after a 27-year-old woman was brutally murdered by her ex-partner in a daylight machete attack in Scarborough, Ontario.

Diane Beaulieu, Executive Director, Halton Women’s Place, encouraged walkers to take action if they witness a woman in trouble and to stand against misogynist behaviour as she announced the launch of a new male ally program for boys.

“We have to start with our youth, if we don’t start with them things are not going to change,” said Beaulieu.

Dias also called for government action as he pointed out the harm caused by a $17 million dollar cut to women’s programs in Ontario.

“The Ford government has taken more than $120,000 away from the important work that needs to be done by Halton Women’s Place,” said Dias. “As proud as we are of our fundraising of 126,000, all that does is replace the money that was taken from the two area shelters.”

Halton Women’s Place is an organization providing shelter and crisis services for physically, emotionally, financially and sexually abused women and their dependent children and is dedicated to ending violence against women and their children.To date Dias and his team have raised more than $460,000 in Hope in High Heels events.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

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Orange Shirt Day 2019

Will you be wearing your Orange shirt on September 30!!

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Monday, September 30 is Orange Shirt Day, an annual event to recognize the experience of residential school survivors. Unifor actively participates as part of our campaign for truth, justice, and reconciliation for Indigenous communities.

Individuals and communities across Canada continue to suffer the intergenerational effects of the violence from residential schools. Orange Shirt Day is an important opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools, and communities to come together and say “Every child matters”. Indigenous children must know they are loved and valued.

Visit orangeshirtday.org 

 

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“WE LISTEN UP” BBQ

We Listen Up

“WE LISTEN UP” in local 1996-O. Look for important information about how to deal with STRESS and accomplish WORK LIFE BALANCE. Look for an AFTER YOUR SHIFT BBQ coming to your Work Centre soon!

 

A special thanks to Ryan Beatty and Paul Weeks and all that have volunteered their time.

 

A few pictures from 416 West locality

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In Solidarity,

Lee, Sanjay, Brian, Chris

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Unifor title sponsor of Women’s Hockey Dream Gap Tournament

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Unifor is excited to be the title sponsor for the first stop of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) Dream Gap Tour taking place in Toronto at the Westwood arena on September 21 – 22, 2019.

“Unifor’s partnership with PWHPA is about creating equity for Canada’s elite women hockey players so that women and girls across the country can play the game, earn a living wage, and receive the dignity and respect they are owed,” Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

The Toronto stop of the tour titled “Unifor Women’s Hockey Showcase” will be a four-team exhibition tournament over two days and feature professional women’s players, including  Hilary Knight, Marie-Philip Poulin, Brianna Decker, Natalie Spooner, Brianne Jenner, Rebecca Johnston and Kacey Bellamy, among others.

The PWHPA Dream Gap Tour was created to draw attention to the fact that there currently is not a league that consistently showcases the best product of women’s hockey in the world, pays its players a living wage and has the infrastructure to set the game up to succeed.

As the title sponsor for the tournament, Unifor officials will be at the opening ceremony and participating in the official puck drop.

Sat. Sep. 21, 2019

Game 1 • 12:30pm
Team Johnston vs. Team Jenner

Game 2 • 3:30pm
Team Poulin vs. Team Knox

 

Sun. Sep. 22, 2019

Game 1 • 9:30am
Team Johnston vs. Team Knox

Game 2 • 12:30pm
Team Poulin vs. Team Jenner

All games will be played at:
Westwood Arena • 90 Woodbine Downs Blvd, Toronto, ON

 

Tickets can be purchased online at pwhpa.com/events/unifor-showcase.